Ok, close your eyes...um...wait. I suppose you can't close them & read, right? Let's try this again. Don't close your eyes but try to visualize the following. Those of you that have pumped, you may get a better visual. I have a hands free bra which is basically a sports bra w/ 2 holes cut out so I can put the pumping cones in & not have to hold them w/ my hands. It is very convenient. So what I do is move the pump to the floor & then surround myself w/ toys & babies. I can pick them up, play w/ them, move them from the exersaucer to the floor mat to the bouncy chair w/o having to stop pumping. Hey, when you are a triplet mom, time is VERY valuable! I multi-task. You gotta do what you gotta do!
If you can believe this, I can also feed 3 babies at 1 time AND answer emails! I have Sofi in her bouncy chair w/ her bottle propped up using a Milk Maid propper.
Then I have Gabi wedged between the back of the couch & my leg & I prop her bottle. All this while I have Ian attached to the boob.
Yep, it is possible. While they are all eating, I am able to have 2 hands to answer emails or surf the web b/c Ian doesn't need me to hold him to stay in place to BF. Since I have a laptop, it sits in front of me on a boppy pillow, another great use for it besides for propping/holding/feeding babies.
You HAVE to get creative AND flexible to a certain degree. I'm not talking flexible w/ your scheduling b/c that is the only thing that keeps me sane at times. I'm talking flexible when trying to find solutions. Yep, you have to dig deep & use that brain to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Shoot, sometimes you have to take the whole thing apart & start over. Who am I kidding!?! Some people may think I am weird but I am going to do what ever it is that I need to do to make it.
That brings up another point. Everyone seems to think doing it on your own is hard. Maybe I am certifiably insane or maybe it is just easier to actually not deal w/ other people on a daily basis since I have a routine & I'm too lazy to explain it all to someone else. What ever the reason, it REALLY isn't hard to be here alone all day w/ my kids. Now, I may change my mind when they become mobile & I will have to write another blog about it & eat my words but for now, I like it. There are a few reasons why.
First, we have a good routine set up. I know what to expect & they know what to expect. It may be a bit repetative but it gets the job done & my kids seem to be just fine. Second, when someone comes over that hasn't been around before, I have to explain everything to them. Who wants to do that over & over again? Next, just like everyone else has *their* way of doing things, so do I. I feed the kids a certain way, change their outfits at certain times, put them down in a specific manner, etc. When someone comes over, those things change. Yep, I am a creature of habit. Why fix it when it ain't broke?
With that being said, I do have help a couple of times a week for a few hours. My MIL comes over & is a great help. By coming, it gives me a chance to pump w/o having to deal w/ all 3 babies or be able to run an errand quickly w/o dragging the babies w/ me. She also helps during the 1pm feeding. Sometimes my 13 yr old neighbor comes over after she gets home from school. We are friends & she likes to catch me up on her school/boy gossip about once a week AND she gets to see & play w/ the babies which she LOVES to do. That is also nice & allows me to mentor her at the same time. I guess that as much as I like being alone, a helping hand is welcomed. I don't want to sound like a hermit crab that hoards her children. I hope I don't come off the wrong way, haha!
When Todd gets home at 4:30, he is welcomed w/ open arms by the 4 of us. Perfect timing! From that point on, we work as a team. We have added daily walks b/c the kids have dropped their evening catnap. It is great to be a family!
Here are some more fun pictures of the kids...
Here is Ianchito pretending to be a big boy sitting in the big chair w/ the remote to the TV.
Here is Sofi after a really cranky episode. It never fails if I put her between me & the couch, she will fall asleep. This time she cuddled up to the pillow, just like her dad!
Gabi loves to roll around on the playmat!
One last picture...Kathy, a friend of Donna's, came to Houston & met the babies. She had the "magic" touch b/c when Sofi was acting up, she could calm her down. It is like Sofi melted in her arms. So cute!
I totally get what you mean about being alone and keeping your routine. Now, granted, I only have one, but during the day we have a pretty good routine going. And when anyone comes over, or even Daddy comes home early, that goes out the window. But I bet it helps to have regular visitors so that you can fit them into your routine and have it be the same every time.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at the pumping visual. I could really have used one of those hands-free ones. It would have been nice. But for you, I can see how it's a necessity.
And the babies are just getting cuter and cuter every day!
I had to comment, because I can totally relate and definitely agree! I always tell people I think I have it easy because all 3 are at the same level and I think if you have 3 kids at different ages you have to adjust to all that. I would take it our triplet way anyday!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to tell you about how I feed all three of my girls at the same time...it works really well. It sounds like you have a pretty good routine going though! I have three boppys (nursing pillows), I set them all on the couch and prop their bottles with a bottle prop I got off ebay for 10 bucks each! Then I just keep an eye on them, make sure they don't choke or lose their bottle! I think its great you are still breast feeding, I gave up when they were three months old! I wish I didn't! Do you supplement any formula?
ReplyDeleteMegan ~ Yes, their last bottle of the day is formula. I pump for the last time after I go to bed. Also, I tried boppy pillows & they just wiggle way too much!
ReplyDeleteAstrid
I can relate to everything you said. I agree I rather do it alone then have to explain the way I do things to everyone, and why I do it that way. My DH works so many hours, he is only here and awake for 2 hours a day between 5pm and 7pm, thankfully because thats the only time I need and welcome help. I don't have triplets so I can't directly relate, but I have 3 under 3. None of them talk yet, one is special needs. My 3 year old with special needs operates on a 2 year old level. Then there is an actual 2 year old, and a breastfeeding 4 month old. I sometimes think, wow this would be so much easier if they were all 4 months old right now. I mean, heck, they all have to be toddlers at some point, but trying to take care of 1 newborn with 2 toddlers i hard. its like i have a newborn and a set of twins, except it probably would have been easier in the earlier months if they had been twins instead of 1 toddler and a newborn when it was just the 2 of them. okay, I don't make sense, but I think you are doing awesome. I know its got to be hard but I think it has its pro's too.
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